The Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences has become a member of the Biomass to Biochemicals Consortium (BTB²C) on November 20, 2013.

The Consortium intends to join together in a cooperative effort to develop on a laboratory scale the technical basis for producing biochemical and materials from monomeric sugars and residual lignin; evaluate pertinent process models for the most promising options; evaluate capital investment and operating cost estimates for selected options. The QIBEBT will serve as the only Chinese research organization within the BTB²C.

QIBEBT will specifically be involved in this partnership to expand the basic science research capacity. QIBEBT has a unique niche in the Consortium in that it is the only member not only focused on green chemical conversion of biomass to bioproducts, but also on biocatalysis and biotransformation of cellulose via enzymes and cellulosome.

The Consortium, led by North Carolina State University (NCSU), was assembled based on the partners’ expertise in understanding of the economics of biomass production and biomass conversion to monomeric sugars, combined with a deep industrial experience in evaluating process configurations on both a Greenfield and a Co-Located basis.

The initial meeting for BTB²C held on November 20 in NCSU. The Consortium is comprised of industries, universities and research institutions like Novozymes, Moorim Pulp and Paper Company, and QIBEBT.